I love summer

My sister Tia and her four darlings come into town today for TWO weeks.  I am so excited.  I hope I can show them DC like no other!  I love summer!!

P.S. Wow... blurry, but a good message nevertheless.

ESM

"Noble fathers have noble children."
~ Euripides 

Happy Fathers Day to the best Dad around.  You are a noble, good man.  We love you so much!!

Strawberry picking

I vowed to go fruit picking LAST year and I have started to make good with my promise (to myself and maybe to the boys....)  It was a BEAUTIFUL day and perfect weather.  We picked a lot of strawberries and I came home and made freezer strawberry jam, fruit leather, dried strawberries and froze some for future smoothies.  It is so wonderful that we live in an area with many farms, local produce and fruits and scenery so exquisite you feel like you are on a movie set.  I almost made it out the door this morning to go blueberry picking, but I had a conflict and had to skip.  I think I will sneak off on Tuesday and go picking.  Yum!!!

More importantly, look at my darling helpers!  I sure love my boys.  I am so blessed.  Awww... summer how I love thee!!

A Gabe-ism

Gabe was blessed with the most wonderful teacher this year.  She was definitely an answer to our prayers.  She inspired him, loved him and made him fall in love with learning.  I cannot say enough good things about her and all her patience, efforts and gifted teaching skills.  

I know Gabe was getting very sad about the last day of school.  He really felt accepted and loved at school.  He came home from school on the last day rather quiet.  It was a rainy day and I thought this was the reason.

Later that day, Mrs. LaClair called.  She said that Gabe was very melancholy at school.  She walked over to his desk and quietly whispered, "Gabe, what am I going to do without you?"  

Gabe sadly looked up at her and said, "I don't know.  I don't even want to think about that!!"

We were both touched.  He is so sensitive and big hearted.  She wanted to share that with me and that as he was leaving they both embraced and wept.  I would like to think that he taught her a few lessons too.  Gabe is the kind of kid that helps you to remember to love life, music, fun and hugs.  He is a special kid and I think Mrs. LaClair could love him so much because he loved her more.  

I am so thankful for Heavenly Father's timeline.  Sometimes it is hard to be patient, but He knows best and He loves us too.  We are so blessed.

Life is good!!

Colonial Days.... Tate style

MY first real day of summer and I am already feeling the itch to catch up.... So, DES does a dandy good job recreating a Colonial Village for a day in their gym.  Parents work their buns off and it is an amazing event for all that attend.  The kids even get a Colonial lunch prepared by many.  I worked at the games station again (I did for Coleman's class too).  It is a fun event and I am glad that I have been able to be apart of it.  Tate is absolutely darling and looked like a gem in his Colonial Days costume.  I adore that boy.  

The games center is also in charge of the stocks.  Kids love being locked up and called names.  It is hilarious.  I can't tell you how many times we got in trouble for being too loud.  Eek!  You know I can't help it.  It is hard for me to believe that Tate is on his way to Middle School.  Why?  I am not ready.  Finn is in these pics TWICE.  Can you spot him?  He was a very good boy and had to stay there with me for a long time.  

I want to pull Gabe out of DES and start him at MON, but then I think of Colonial Days..... Why do I do that?  Just cut the cord!.... and I can't.  

P.S. My parents FINALLY sold their house.  I believe in the power of prayer!! 

My boys leave for Oregon today.  I am going to miss them terribly.  Tia and her kids come next week.  We have lots of trips planned this summer.  I am excited!  Even better... NO MORE SCHOOL!! 

Finally!

 Yipee!!

Counting down to nothing.... or

at least an easier way of living.  Let's see, 5 soccer games in 3 days.  This is more or less the last of the last activities.  We had Arrow of Light and are down to our last soccer game.  I feel like crying.  Tomorrow is 5th grade graduation and FINALLY Tuesday is the LAST day of school.  We cannot wait.  We have a pretty busy summer, but "different busy"... not school busy.  

Eric took this pic of Tate at Friday nights game.  I love it.  Tate has really improved and I think soccer might be his thing.  I would love it if it was. He had a really hard coach, but that can be a good thing.  

Pool, here we come!

How many more days of school are left....?

Yes, we are counting!!

Stop and listen

My kitchen is a mess.  Eric is sick.  I am tired.  I want to go to bed and....lately, Finn has been finding his way down to the kitchen around 9:30 STARVED.  He is eating eggs, blueberries, yogurt, cereal, ham... basically whatever decent food he can get his hands on.  How can I deny him?  He must be growing or something.  

Tonight after his 9:30 meal I took him up to bed.  He asks me to cuddle.  I say no.  I walk down the hall and think to myself...."how can I deny that either?"  He is growing up so fast.  I need to slow down and savor these moments.  I walk back and cuddle for a few minutes.  Finn is a wild man at 3 years old.  It is a Martinis tradition.  But tonight, he is calm and happy.  

Finn is still sucking and loving his binkies.  We have been so less strict with him and his teeth show it.  Don't they all need braces in the end anyways?  So... , we are cuddling and puts one of his binkies on my nose (yuck!!).  I tell him that I don't like his sucked on binky on my nose.  He says in disbelief, "You don't need a binky smashed on your nose (meaning in order to go to sleep)?"  I say no.  He says, "Then what do you do?"  He then rolls over, pops a binky in his mouth and uses another one to smash on his nose in order to find peace and the Sandman.  Cute.  He might be a wild man, but he is still my baby and I love that he still needs to smash his nose with a binky to hit the hay.

Now what do I do?  Hummmm?